Automatic recloser



Jan. 19', 1960 F. 1.. CAMERON ET AL 2,922,005

AUTOMATIC RECLOSER I Filed March 7, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 19, 1960 F. L. CAMERON ETAL 2, 22, 05

AUTOMATIC RECLOSER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 7, 1958 Clllllllll.

Fig.3

Jan. 19, 1960 F. CAMERON ETAL 2,922,005

' AUTOMATIC RECLOSER Filed March 7, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 i I00 H 5 F, m AAA I l l AUTOMATIC RECLOSER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 7, 1958 United States Patent AUTOMATIC RECLOSER Frank L. Cameron, North Huntington Township, Westmoreland County, and Thomas J. Herter, Penn Township, Allegheny County, Pa., assignors to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., :1 corporation of Pennsylvania 7 Application March 7, 1958, Serial No. 719,891

7 Claims. (Cl. 200-89) This invention relates to circuit breakers and more particularly to automatic reclosers. I

This invention is illustrated as applied to an automatic recloser of the type disclosed in copending application Serial No. 606,009, filed August 24, 1956, by Alson R. Harm, Alvin W. Ogg and Kenneth L. Niebauer, now Patent No. 2,858,395, issued October 28, 1958, and assigned to the assignee of the present invention.

Such reclosers provide a variety of instantaneous and time delay tripping times which can be selected in a relatively simple manner. While the reclosing time is adjustable between, for instance, /2 to 20 seconds, once adjusted the reclosing time is fixed for any complete sequence of operations. That is, if set for a two second reclosing time, the recloser will reclose in two seconds after each automatic opening operation.

In order to take advantage of the high-speed characteristic of the recloser, and to keep the number of operations at a minimum when the recloser is used in series with other reciosers, there is provided, adjusting means whereby the reclosing time can be varied from operation to operation. That is, in a series of closely successive operations, the recloser can be set to make, for instance, one instantaneous reclosing operation followed by three time-delay reclosing operations, or it may be set to make two instantaneous reclosing, operations followed by two time-delay reclosing operations.

' An object of the invention is to provide an automatic recloser embodying means for varying the time of reclosing operations in a series of closely successive operations. 7

Another object of the invention is to provide an automatic recloser having means for providing instantaneous and time-delay reclosing operations with adjustable means for varying the number of each type of operations;

Another object of the invention isto provide an automatic recloser having means for effecting automatic reclosing operation following automatic tripping operations and time-delay means for delaying the automatic reclosing operations with means for effecting instantaneous reclosing operations andmeans for varying the number of instantaneous reclosing operations. I

"The invention, both as to structure and operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following detailed description thereof when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In said drawings: 7 Figure 1 is an elevational sectional view through one of the pole units showing the operating mechanism;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevational View showing the counting device;

Fig. 3 is anelevational view partly in section of the trip device and time-delay means;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of the recloser showing the circuit connections to the several elements; and

Fig. 5 is a front elevational view of the time-delay control panel shown in Fig. 3. V

Referring to Fig. 1, the polyphase recloser includes a cover casting 12 to which is secured two tanks 25 and 29 which house respectively a multipole recloser indicated generally at 10 and an operating mechanism 30, Fig. 1, and time-delay means 32 (Figs. 3 and 5). The tank 25 is filled with oil to a level indicated at 27. Mounted in the cover 12 is a pair of insulating bushings 15 and 16 for each of the three poles of the recloser (only one pair being shown), through which bushings extend conductors 18 and 19. At their lower ends the bushings 16 support interrupters indicated generally at 20 each of which is connected by a conductor 21 to a series overload current trip element 22 which is supported at the lower end of the bushing 15. The interrupter 20 is provided with resilient contact fingers 51 which cooperate with a contact rod 48 to open and close the circuit. The

interrupter 20 is also provided with a plurality of discs or plates, not shown herein, but which are fully disclosed in the aforementioned copending application.

The rods 48 (Fig. 1) are connected by means of insulating links 65 to levers 66 secured to a shaft 70 which is rotatably mounted in suitable bearings supported in bosses 71 depending from the cover 12. The shaft 70 is provided with a lever 75 which is connected by a link 76 to an operating lever 78 of the operating mechanism 30.

The operating mechanism 30 is mounted in the tank 29 in a U-shaped frame comprising spaced side members 81 (only one of which is shown) rigidly joined at their lower ends by a cross member or base 79. The side members 81 are secured by means of flanges 82 to bosses 83 on the cover 12. The operating lever 78 is pivotally mounted on a shaft 85 supported in the frame and is biased in a counterclockwise direction by a spring 86. The operating lever 78 is releasably held in the position shown against the force of the spring 86 by means of a toggle linkage comprising links 89, 91 and a latch member 94. The toggle link 89 is connected to the operating lever 78 by a pivot pin 90 and to the toggle link 91 by a knee pivot pin 92. link 91 is connected by a pivot pin 95 to the latch 94 which is pivoted on a shaft 97 supported in the side frames 81.

In the closed position (Fig. 1), the toggle link 91 rests against a stop 99 with the pivot pins 92 and 95 overcenter above a line drawn through the center of the pin 90 and the shaft 97. The pivot pin 95 is releasably maintained in this position by means of a latch 100 pivotally mounted on a shaft 102 supported in the frame 81. The latch 100 has a recess 103 therein which engages a latch roller 105 on the latch lever 94. The latch 100 is releasably held in the position shown by a tripping toggle comprising links 107 and which are connected together by a knee pivot pin 111. The link 107 is pivotally connected by a pivot pin 108 to the latch 100 and the link 110 is mounted on a fixed pivot 113 in the frame 81. A spring 114 is connected under tension between the latch 100 and the toggle link 110. A trip lever 115 rotatably mounted on the pin 113 is provided with a projection 116 for actuating the toggle 107110 overcenter, and a portion 117 which normally engages a stop 118 to hold the trip lever 115 in the position shown.

When the trip lever 115 is rocked counterclockwise, the projection 116 actuates the tripping toggle 107-110 permitting the latch 100 to rotate clockwise to release the latch roller 105. This releases the lever 94 which rotates counterclockwise moving the pivot 95 farther overcenter causing the knee pivot 92 to move downwardly overcenter whereupon the spring 86 acts to rotate the operating lever 78 counterclockwise. This moves the link 76 to the left rocking the shaft 70 counterclockwise to lift the contact rods 48 and open the contacts. When the toggle linkage 8991 collapses downwardly, it moves The other end of the the lever 94 to the position shown when the roller 105 is re-engaged by the notch 163 permitting the spring 114 to reset the tripping toggle 1112-110.

A shunt trip solenoid "1291's secured to the base 79 :of the frame and has'an armature provided with a projec'tion 121 extendingtnrough an opening 122 in the base 79. An auxiliary trip lever 124 pivotally mounted on the pin 113 is provided with a laterally extending portion 125 disposed to be engaged by the projection 121 of the shunt trip solenoid armature to actuate the triplever 115.

The auxiliary trip lever 124 has a lateral projection 4 engaging the. pin 172 to prevent upward movement of the pin 172 relative to the member 173. counterclockwise movement of the latch me'mber permits the pin 172 to 7 move upwardly in a slot in the member173 and thus 127 disposed to be engaged by a manual trip lever 128 'rotatably mounted on a shaft 129 for engagement by a lever 128 for effecting manual tripping of the recloser.

The breaker is automatically reclosed following an opening operation by means of a closing link 138, the upper end of which is pivotally connected to the knee 92 of the toggle 89-91 and has a pin 139 on its lower end 7 which is movable in an arcuate slot 14am a guide member 142. The closing link 138 is provided with a shoulder 14? disposed to be engaged by a roller 145 carried by a' lever 144 on a shaft 146 which is rotatably mounted in the side members 81 of the frame. A drum switch comprising a contact segment 147 mounted on shaft 146, and a stationary contact member 148 is used as a limit switch for controlling the operation of 'a motor 151 The motor is rigidly supported on the bottom of the mechanism rrarneand is suitably connected by means of a worm gear drive, (not shown) to rotate the shaft 146 and reclose the breaker.

The breaker is manually closed by operation of a 1 manual closing link 136 which is pivotally connected to the knee of the toggle 8991. The closing link 136 is slidable in a guide member 137 and disposed to be engaged and raised by a roller 126 on the; lever 128. This straightens the toggle 8991 and actuates the operating lever 78' to close the breaker. The shaft 129 is actuated by suitable means from a point externally of the breaker housing. This means is not shown herein but is fully disclosed in the aforementioned copending patent application.

175 which engage levers 193 on. a common trip, bar or shaft 196 extendinglongitudinally of the panel as shown in Fig. 5. The trip bar 196 ispivotally mounted on the panel by means of brackets 197 and has a trip arm 198 thereon adjacent the operating mechanism 31), which, when raised, engages the portion 117 on the trip lever 115 and The armature (not shown) of the tripping electromagnet 22 is connected by means of a rod 157 to a lever 159 (Figs. 1, 3 and 5) pivotally mounted on a shaft 161 supported by means of a bracket 161 on a panel 162 secured to the cover casting 12. The other pole units of the breaker are provided with levers 159' and 159" supported in individual shafts 16d and 160" (Fig. 5) supported in brackets 161 and 161 so that operation of'their overcurrent relays'22 are individual to their particular pole units.

Mountcd'on the control panel 162 is a plurality of timedelay means 32 individual to each of the poles for controlling the opening thereof. A resilient lostmotion connecting device 169 including a spring 170 compressed between'a cap 171 and a spring seat 171 by means of pins 172 and 172 secured to extensions 173 of the movable portion of the dashpot 32 and to the lower end of a rod 175, respectively. The pins 172 and 172' slide in slots 174 and 174' respectively, in rod 175 and. extension 173,

, thus providing a resilient connection-between the operating rod 175, which is connected to acrank lever 176' by of the overcurrent trip relays 22 in response to excessive fault currents of, for example, about ten times normal current. Springs 178 (Fig. 5) are connected'between a pin 179 adjustably mounted by means of a nut 180 and a bracket 181 on the panel 162 and the lever .176 to adjust member .216.

actuates the latter to trip the mechanism in the previousy described manner.

Also mounted on the panel .162 is an air dashpot timedelay device 2% (Figs. 3 and 5) of substantially the same type as the delay device 32. This time delay device is operatively connectm to an extension 760 of the lever .78 by a pin 2112 (Fig. 5) to effect, by means of a projection 192, a delayed operation of a micro-switch 205 which is mounted on'panel 162 by a bracket 2115 and .used to set up a reclosing circuit'for the closing motor 1511(Fig1). V

Means is provided for locking the recloser open after a predetermined number of closely consecutive openingoperations. This means comprises an integrator or counter consisting of a dashpot 211 (Fig. 2) connected to a counter member 216. The counter member 216 is advanced one step at each opening operation by an advancing mechanism 'indicatedgenerally at 224 connected by a link 226 to. arms'228 on the extension 78a of the mechanism operating lever 78. The counter member 216 (Fig. 2) is provided with spaced teeth 217, 2 18, 219 and 220. A lever 222 pivotally mounted on arms 2'23 extending from the panel 162 carries a pawl 225 disposed to engage the teeth in succession when the lever 222 is rotated in'a clockwise direction by means of operating links 226 which are connected to arms 228 projecting laterally from the extension .78a of the operating lever 78. The operative connection of lever 228 and links 226is shown in Fig. 2. a

A lateral projection 230 (Fig. 5) at the lower end of the counter member 216 is disposed to be engaged by a projection 229 of a lever 227 pivotally connected at. 231 to a link 232 which is connected by a pivot pin 235 to the shunt trip lever 124. The. lever 227 is pivotally mounted v, on a bracket 233 secured to the panel 162.. In the event that the trip lever 124 is moved in a counterclockwise direction by either the shunt trip solenoid 120, or the manual trip means, the lever 227 will be raised by the trip lever 124 to advance the counter member 216 immediately to the lockout position. An elongated spring 234 provides a soft resilient .reset bias for i In the lockout position, the projection 230" engages and actuates a' microswitch 240 after, for example, four ,trip solenoid 120. The microswitch 240 opens the operating' circuit for the closing motor 150 to prevent reclosing, thuslocking the recloser open; 7 V

A portion 245 (Fig.5) of the control member 190* is engaged by an adjustable member 243. mounted on the counter member 216 by means of screws 244 and causes "the control member 19010 actuate the time-delay control members 1183 (Figs. 3 and 5) to disconnect the timeone or two opening operations. I

the counter Referring to Fig. 4, it. will be seen that the recloser .is disposed to interrupt the circuit between the conductors 18 and 19 of a three-phase circuit, the separable contacts being represented by a bridging type contact 10:: in each instance instead of the single rod 48 and finger type contacts '51 as hereinbefore set forth. The trip relays 22 areshown with their trip coils 151 connected in circuit withthe'conductors 18 for operating armatures 149 which are operatively connected as indicated by dotted lines 'to'actuate the common trip bar 196 through the time- 'delay devices 32, which have operating members 183 for disconnecting the delay means to obtain substantially instantaneous tripping action, with the lever 190 for operating them actuated by cam 243 to the initial position as shown. Current transformers 207 are connected in parallel circuit relation to the trip coil 142' of the ground fault relay 206 for also operating the trip bar 196.

Operation of the trip bar 196 trips the breaker open in"the previously described manner and causes pivotal movement of the operating lever 78 which actuates the pawl 225 (Fig. 2) and advances the counter member 216 one step each time the breaker opens. The lever 78 also actuates the time-delay device 200 which, a predetermined time after the breaker opens, closes the switch 205 to eflect energization of the closing motor 150 through the normally closed lockout switch 240.

In certain installations, particularly when the recloser is used in series with other reclosers it is advantageous to instantaneously reclose the breaker following an automaticopening operation. Instantaneous reclosure of the breaker is effected by means of a'reclosing switch 213 (Figs. 2, 4 and 5) mounted by means of a bracket 214 on the bracket 212 which, in turn, is supported on the panel 162. The switch 213 (Fig. 5) is normally open and connected in parallel with the time-delay reclosing switch 205. A cam member 246 (Fig. 2) adjustably mounted by means of screws 247 on the counter member 216, is provided to engage a roller 248 on a switch actuating arm 249 to operate the switch 213. The cam 246 is provided with spaced cam portions 250 and 251 positioned relative to the roller 248 so that when the counter member 216 advances one step upon opening of the breaker the cam 250 engages the roller 248 and closes the switch 213. When the switch 213 is closed the motor 150 'is energized over auxiliary contacts 221 which close when the breaker opens, the switch 213 and the normally closed lockout switch 240. Energization of the motor 150 immediately closes the breaker without waiting for the time-delay reclosing switch 205 to close. Shortly after .the operating mechanism begins to move in closing direction the reset switch 205 and auxiliary contacts 221 open and the drum limit switch 148 closes to maintain the motor energized until the breaker is reclosed, and deenergizes the motor at the end of the closing operation. After a predetermined number of such operations, the counter member 216 operates-the limit switch 240 to interrupt the circuit for the motor for locking the counter in the open positions. Reclosing may then be elfected by manual operation of a control switch 252 which parallels and bypasses the lockout switch 240.

As shown the cam portion 251 (Fig. 2) is spaced from the portion 250 so that the second of the first two reclosing operations of a series, for instance, of four closely successive reclosing operations, will also be initiated instantaneously on an opening operation. Thereafter the roller 249 will ride off of the cam portion 251 causing the switch 213 to open. The following reclosing operations of the series will be efiected under control of the time-delay reclosing switch 205. It will thus be seen that two instantaneous reclosures and two time-delay reclosures are provided.

By adjusting the position of the cam 246 relative to the roller 248, or by providing a cam 246 of different pro- 150 and thus provide portions, the number of instantaneous and time-delay reclosures may be varied.

Having described the invention in accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the particular embodiment disclosed without departing from the spirit of this invention.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a recloser, separable contacts, a releasable operating mechanism for actuating said contacts, operating means to separate said contacts, trip means operable in response to current above a predetermined value to cause contact separating movement of said operating mechanism, closing means including an electric operator con- 7 nected to actuate said operating mechanism to reclose said contacts, a time delay switch closed by said operating mechanism to effect energization of said electric operator a predetermined time after an opening operation, a counter advanced by closely successive operations of said recloser, means actuated by said counter during certain of said closely successive operations to efiect energization or" said electric operator without said time delay.

2. In a recloser, separable contacts, a releasable operating mechanism for actuating said contacts, operating means to separate said contacts, trip means operable in response to current above a predetermined value to cause contact separating movement of said operating mechanism, closing means including an electric operator connected to actuate said operating mechanism to reclose said contacts, a time-delay switch closed by said operating mechanism to efiect energization of said electric operator a predetermined time after an opening operation,

a counter advanced by closely successive operations of said recloser, means actuated by said counter during certain of said closely successive operations to efiect energization of said electric operator before said time-delay switch closes, and means on said counter for engaging and actuating said energizing means.

3. In a recloser, separable contacts, a releasable operating mechanism for actuating said contacts, operating means including a spring biasing the mechanism to separate said contacts, trip means operable in response to current above a predetermined value to effect separation of said contacts, closing means including an electric operator connected to effect reclosure of said contacts, a time-delay means operated by said operating mechanism to effect energization of said electric operator at predetermined time after an opening operation, a counter advanced by closely successive operations of said recloser, means actuated by said counter during certain of said closely successive operations to efiect energization of said electric operator before operation of said time-delay means, and adjustable means for engaging and actuating said energizing means during a predetermined number of the closely successive operations of said recloser.

4. In a recloser, separable contacts, a releasable operating mechanism for actuating said contacts, operating means to separate said contacts, trip means operable in response to current above a predetermined value to effect separation of said contacts, closing means operable to reclose said contacts, a time delay actuated by said operating mechanism to efiect operation of said closing means a predetermined time after an opening operation, a counter advanced by closely successive operations of said recloser, control means actuated by said counter during certain of said closely successive operations to etfect operation of said closing means before actuation of said time delay, and cam means on said counter for engaging and actuating said control means, said cam means being adjustable to vary the number of said closely successive operations during which said control means will be actuated before said time delay is actuated.

5. In a recloser, separable contacts, a releasable operating means for actuating said contacts, operating means operable to separate said contacts, trip means operable in response tocurrent above a predetermined value to e'fiectreleaseof said operating means, closing means including'power. operated means connected to actuate said operating means to reclose said contacts, a time-delay means actuated by said operating mechanism to efiect energization of said power operated means a predetermined time after an opening operation, a counter advanced by closely successive operations of said recloser,

energizing means actuated by said counter during certain of said closely successive operations to effect energization of said power operated means before actuation of said time-delay means, and lockout means normally providing an operating circuit for energizing said power operated means,,said lockout means being actuated to open said operating circuit by said counter after a predetermined number of closely successive operations. 7

6. In a recloser, separable contacts, a releasable operating mechanism for actuating said contacts, operating means including biasing means biasing the mechanism to separate said contacts, trip means operable in response tocurr'ent above a predetermined value to eflect release of said operating mechanism, closing means operable when energized to actuate said operating mechanismto reclose said contacts, a time-delay switch closed by said operating mechanism to effect energization of said closing means a predetermined time after an opening operation, a counter advanced by closely successive operations 7 of said recloser, switch means actuated by said counter during certain of said closely successive operations to effect energization of said closing means before said timedel-ay switch closes, means on said counter for engaging and actuating said switch means a normally closed lockout switch providing a circuit" for' ene rgizingsaid closing means, said lockout switclijb'ein'g opened 'bysaid counter after a predetermined number of closelyfsuccessi-ve operatic-11 7. 'In a reclo'ser, separable" contacts, a releasable operating .mechanism for actuating said contacts, operating means includinga spring biasing the mechanism to separate said contacts, trip means operable in response-"t o currentabove a predetermined value to effect release of said operating mechanism, closing means including'fa motor connected toactuate said operating mechanisi'n to reclose said contacts, a'time-delay switch closed by said operating mechanism to effect energization of said more: a predetermined time after} an opening Operation, a counter advanced by closely successive operations of said recloser, switch means actuated by'said rcounte'rl d'11 'ring certain of said closely successive ope'rati'ongszto ,efiect energiz'ation of said motor before said time'delay's'witch closes, cam means on said counter for engaging References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS:-

2,s03,154 Graves ;4,1959 2,561,452 Van Ryan etal. 11115 24, 1 951 

